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Stars Over Sunset Boulevard

"Two women working in Hollywood during its Golden Age discover the joy and heartbreak of true friendship"-- Provided by publisher.Los Angeles, present day: When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind ends up in Christine McAllister's vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie. Los Angeles, 1938: Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her dreams fall apart, and lands a job on the set of Gone With the Wind. She meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey's zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood's glitterati enthrall Violet until each woman's deepest desires collide.

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If you’re a fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood, you may enjoy STARS OVER SUNSET BOULEVARD which begins during the filming of “Gone With the Wind”. I liked the behind-the-scenes detail about the making and release of GWTW that author Susan Meissner incidentally throws into the plot - wish there had been more. The story is about friendship, secrets, choices, their consequences, and ultimately, forgiveness. It follows two women over the span of 25 years. Meissner skillfully presents us with attractive characters who are well-rounded, “warts” and all. I did find one of the principals to be particularly annoying, which probably affected the novel’s “likability” for me. Also, at times the plot dragged and was heavy on the drama, taking on the qualities of a soap opera. Still, this was a mildly entertaining read, appropriate for a vacation or weekend, but one easily forgotten once finished.

Susan Meissner does a great job of creating books that speak to the heart and are adult but with little language, gore or sex. Her women characters feel very real and it makes me wish I could hang out with them.
This book really goes behind the scenes of Gone with the Wind in very interesting ways.